FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026

Key changes in this edition

1. Restructuring of the foul systemThe most significant structural change: the unsportsmanlike foul has given way to two new categories — Article 37, the Disruptive Foul, and Article 38, the Flagrant Foul. Article 39 remains the disqualifying foul. Between the personal foul and disqualification there are now two steps rather than one.
2. Definition of the disruptive foulA disruptive foul is illegal contact that does not rise to the level of a flagrant foul but disrupts the flow of the game and places the opponent at a disadvantage: unnecessary contact by a defender who is making no legitimate attempt to play the ball and seeks to stop the attacking team's progress on a fast break, or to stop the game clock and shot clock at the end of a quarter or overtime, or contact from behind or from the side against a player advancing towards the opponents' basket with no defender between that player and the basket.
3. Two classes of technical foulArticle 36 divides technical fouls into Class 1 and Class 2. Only a Class 1 technical foul leads to ejection from the game; Class 2 does not count towards ejection. Class 1 covers conduct such as disrespectful contact with referees and officials, using provocative language or gestures towards spectators, and baiting or taunting an opponent.
4. Redefinition of the "act of shooting"Article 15 defines more precisely where the act of shooting begins and ends, and sets out separate definitions for the jump shot, the drive to the basket and other moving shots. The stated reason is explicit: players are increasingly manipulating the situation to draw a shooting foul. In addition, a shot from a team's own half of the court is disregarded, except at the end of a quarter or overtime or at the end of the shot clock.
5. Second dribbleArticle 24 clarifies that after a player's first dribble has ended, the player may dribble again only if they have lost control of the live ball — through a shot, through an opponent touching the ball, or when the ball touches another player on a pass or a fumble.
6. Colour of the court linesArticle 2.5: the colour of the boundary lines and court markings may vary to make event branding possible — provided that all boundary lines are the same colour and each pair of markings on the two halves of the court match. The centre line and centre circle may be a different colour.
7. ApparelArticle 4.3: the requirement that socks be visible has been removed. Long-sleeved shirts are not permitted, sleeves must end above the elbow, the shirt must be tucked into the shorts and the shorts must end above the knee; the socks of all team members must be of the same dominant colour.
8. Commissioner and technical delegateArticle 1.1: wherever the rule book refers to the "commissioner", this also includes the technical delegate.